Sword Guard (Tsuba)
Unknown Artist
18th century
Medium
Shakudō, gold, silver, copper
Dimensions
H. 2 3/4 in. (7 cm); W. 2 5/8 in. (6.7 cm)
Classification
Sword Furniture-Tsuba
Culture
Japanese
Department
Arms and Armor
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Edward G. Kennedy, 1932
Accession Number
33.40.32
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite 18th-century Japanese tsuba, or sword guard, exemplifies the refined artistry of the Edo period, when samurai culture elevated even functional objects into works of beauty. Serving as the protective handguard on a katana or wakizashi, the tsuba balanced practicality with aesthetic appeal, reflecting the wearer’s status and taste. Crafted during a time of relative peace, such pieces often featured intricate designs that conveyed themes of strength, nature, or human endeavor, making them prized possessions beyond their martial purpose. The tsuba’s medium—shakudō, a traditional Ja...